====== House Rules ======

===== Death =====

Being raised from the dead costs you 1 level and 1 point of Constitution (permanently).  Use the [[#leveladjustment | Level Adjustment]] calculation below to compute your new XP after being raised.

===== Dismissing Spells =====

As stated in the [[http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicOverview/spellDescriptions.htm#dismissible|SRD]] you must be able to speak to dismiss dismissible (Duration: D) spells with a verbal component.  Or you can use the Silent Spell metamagic feat.  This is particularly relevant to the Animorph spell, if the caster changes into the shape of a non-speaking animal.

Another option to cancel the spell would be to cast  [[http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/dispelMagic.htm|Dispel Magic]] which "automatically succeed[s] on...dispel check[s] against any spell that you cast yourself".  But again, Dispel Magic requires both verbal and somatic components.

A third option would be to have [[http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/tongues.htm|Tongues]] cast on the Animorphed caster.  Then he can dismiss his own shape.

===== Eschew Materials =====

All spellcasters get the [[http://www.d20srd.org/srd/feats.htm#eschewMaterials|Eschew Materials]] feat for free.

===== Level Adjustment =====

Levels \(l\) relate to XP \(x\) through the relationship
\[
  x(l) = 500 l (l-1) 
\]
which, if we interpret \(l\) as a real number instead of an integer, can be turned around to say
\[
  l(x) = \frac{1}{2} \left[\sqrt{\frac{x}{125} + 1} + 1\right]. 
\]

Now if a character needs to make a level adjustment, let's say losing \(n\) levels, then
\[
  l' = l-n, 
\]
\[
  x'= 500 (l-n) (l-n-1). 
\]

So, to calculate your new XP after losing \(n\) levels:
  - First calculate your original level (as a real number), \( l = \left[\sqrt{x/125 + 1} + 1 \right] / 2 \),
  - Then calculate your new XP, \( x'= 500 (l-n) (l-n-1). \)

==== Example ====

For example, if [[.:story:Khouhn]] starts with \(x=56183\) XP and loses \(n=2\) levels:
  - His original level (as a real number) is \( l = \left[\sqrt{56183/125 + 1} + 1 \right] / 2 = 11.1121 \),
  - So, after the adjustment he has \( x'= 500 (l-n) (l-n-1) = 36959 \) XP.

===== Polymorph =====

Ahhhh... this new ground as DM guy, since previously ran campaigns with only low level characters.  Investigating shows that clearly the rules are pretty foobarred.  At the same time, I think polymorph could be a lot of fun.

I like this guy's house rule:

[[http://www.giantitp.com/articles/dC21fDHZ4tK8n5OjUm9.html|Giant in the playground]]

His approach seems quite balanced.  Let's go with that.

He has come up with a temporary character template for polymorphed creatures.  He also has split up the polymorph spell into several spells depending on creature type.  As part of his rules, a spellcaster would only be able to morph/morph others into a creature he has encountered, provided he has the proper morph spell.

I might tweak his rules slightly.  For example, baleful polymorph has been replaced with turn to frog  --I'd change the duration from 1 day/level to special  1 day/castor level with a new set of saving throws each time the spell is about to end.  If the victim makes both saves, the spell ends.  However, if the victim makes the Fort but not the Will, the victim returns to normal form, but cannot use any extraordinary, supernatural, or spell-like abilities and gains the Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores of a frog for another duration of  1 day/ castor level. This repeats until the victim makes Will his save as well.

Additional: As discussed with Joel, the reason Smike wanted a polymorph spell is because he discovered [[http://www.zoology.ubc.ca/~rikblok/dnd/index.html#11pm:%A0Dwarf-morph|it has healing powers]], something Smike is fascinated by.  Therefore, Joel has agreed to keep the healing abilities of the polymorph spells.

===== Underwater Casting =====

If a caster can breath underwater (eg. with the Water Breathing spell) then s/he can cast spells with verbal and somatic components as normal if a concentration check is passed (for each casting).  DM will choose the DC.

===== Vow of Poverty =====

The Vow of Poverty feat from the Book of Exalted Deeds (page 29) is overpowered:

^  Character Level ^ Benefit((Book of Exalted Deeds, Table 2-3))                               ^  [[http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/creatingMagicItems.htm#tableEstimatingMagicItemGoldPieceValues| Equivalent gp]] ^  Recommended Wealth((DMG Table 5-1, page 135)) ^  Overpower ^
|              1st | AC bonus +4                                                               |                                                                                                                  16,000 |                                            100 |    +15900% |
|              2nd | Bonus exalted feat                                                        |                                                                                                                  16,400 |                                            900 |     +1700% |
|              3rd | AC bonus +5, endure elements                                              |                                                                                                                  27,900 |                                          2,700 |      +930% |
|              4th | Exalted strike +1 (magic), bonus exalted feat                             |                                                                                                                  30,300 |                                          5,400 |      +460% |
|              5th | Sustenance                                                                |                                                                                                                  30,300 |                                          9,000 |      +240% |
|              6th | AC bonus +6, deflection +1, bonus exalted feat                            |                                                                                                                  41,700 |                                         13,000 |      +220% |
|              7th | Resistance +1, ability score enhancement +2                               |                                                                                                                  52,200 |                                         19,000 |      +180% |
|              8th | Natural armor +1, mind shielding, bonus exalted feat                      |                                                                                                                  62,600 |                                         27,000 |      +130% |
|              9th | AC bonus +7                                                               |                                                                                                                  75,600 |                                         36,000 |      +110% |
|             10th | Exalted strike +2 (good), damage reduction 5/magic, bonus exalted feat    |                                                                                                                 120,000 |                                         49,000 |      +150% |
|             11th | Ability score enhancement +4/+2                                           |                                                                                                                 136,000 |                                         66,000 |      +110% |
|             12th | AC bonus +8, deflection +2, greater sustenance, bonus exalted feat        |                                                                                                                 159,900 |                                         88,000 |       +82% |
|             13th | Resistance +2, energy resistance 5                                        |                                                                                                                 180,900 |                                        110,000 |       +64% |
|             14th | Exalted strike +3, freedom of movement, bonus exalted feat                |                                                                                                                 231,300 |                                        150,000 |       +54% |
|             15th | AC bonus +9, ability score enhancement +6/+4/+2, damage reduction 5/evil  |                                                                                                                 322,300 |                                        200,000 |       +61% |
|             16th | Natural armor +2, bonus exalted feat                                      |                                                                                                                 328,700 |                                        260,000 |       +26% |
|             17th | Exalted strike +4, resistance +3, regeneration                            |                                                                                                                 452,700 |                                        340,000 |       +33% |
|             18th | AC bonus +10, deflection +3, true seeing, bonus exalted feat              |                                                                                                                 552,100 |                                        440,000 |       +25% |
|             19th | Ability score enhancement +8/+6/+4/+2, damage reduction 10/evil           |                                                                                                                 692,100 |                                        580,000 |       +19% |
|             20th | Exalted strike +5, energy resistance 15, bonus exalted feat               |                                                                                                                 785,500 |                                        760,000 |        +3% |

The Vow of Poverty (VoP) is intended to compensate PCs who choose voluntary poverty so that they're not severely disadvantaged in a campaign.  But because it's overpowered it can be a strategic rather than character-motivated decision.  

To fix it we should just replace VoP with "free" magic effects on par with any other character of the same level.  The [[http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/creatingMagicItems.htm#tableEstimatingMagicItemGoldPieceValues| SRD]] gives a table for calculating values of magic effects, or you can just "buy" a magic item. But since each effect does not take up one of the spaces on a body it costs double.

Page 199 of the DMG states:
<WRAP center round box 60%>
=== Magic Items as Gear===

You’re free to limit what magic items characters can choose when
they create characters of higher levels, just as if you were assigning
those items to treasure hoards in the game. You can exercise
an item-by-item veto, but an easier method is to use maximum
cost for a single item as a limit. For example, while an 8th-level
character has 27,000 gp to spend, you can limit him to owning <wrap hi>no
single item worth more than one-quarter</wrap> of that, or 5,500 gp. This
is a good way to prevent imbalances such as an 8th-level fighter
with hardly a copper piece to his name who is armed with a nine
lives stealer.
</WRAP>
Let's implement the same "one-quarter" rule: no single effect can be worth more than one-quarter of the PC's total "wealth".  

The PC can add/replace effects each time they level up.  We may want to limit it to a fixed number of additions/replacements per level.

<WRAP center round box 80%>
For example, at level 12 Khouhn can afford effects costing no more than 22,000 each and totaling up to 88,000.  Comparing to the original VoP:

^ Original VoP        ^ House rule VoP                             ^
| +11 AC              | +5 AC (+2 armor +2 deflection +1 natural)  |
| endure elements     | endure elements                            |
| +2 attack/dmg       | +2 attack/dmg                              |
| greater sustenance  | sustenance                                 |
| +1 resistance       | +1 resistance                              |
| +4/+2 abilities     | +2/+2 ability                              |
| mind shielding      |                                            |
| DR 5/magic          |                                            |
| 2 exalted feats     |                                            |



Hmm, that might make VoP too **underpowered**.  Maybe we should drop the cost-doubling?
</WRAP>
